Human Trafficking Happens Everywhere - Even On The Lakeshore
Honoring Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Human trafficking – the act of compelling someone to work, for little or no pay, through force, fraud, or coercion – is an incredibly complex issue that connects with many others. Human trafficking is a grave injustice and a growing $150 billion dollar industry, but it does not happen inside a bubble. This issue intersects with various other system injustices and inequities. Trafficking disproportionately impacts marginalized groups, and it happens both around the world as well as in our own cities. Human trafficking is illegal in every country, yet it happens everywhere. When we (intentionally or unintentionally) perpetuate false narratives about trafficking, we fail to center the actual survivors and victims, the people directly impacted by the issue. The spread of misinformation and myths around this issue has had damaging effects on the anti-human trafficking movement in the past.

Myth: “Human trafficking only happens on the other side of the world.”
Truth: Even though it is illegal, human trafficking happens in all countries around the world, including the US and even here throughout the Lakeshore.

Even in our region, human trafficking is present. Thankfully we have amazing organizations like our partner The Hope Project working to not only provide supports to survivors, but to actively advocate and push for justice for them. Last year, 140 survivors were served in Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa, and Kent. These survivors were given a safe shelter to stay in, offered mentorship, group therapy, transportation services to medical and legal appointments, and so much more. Find out more about the Hope Project by clicking the button below!
AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Members Served Over 7,000 Hours In 2022!
In the last two years, it is no secret that our community has been more health-conscious after enduring a pandemic. To increase access to care, promote healthy behaviors, and educate our community on resources available in health care, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program made "Healthy Futures" their primary focus in 2022.
 
Last year, RSVP members served 7,099 hours at 20 station partner sites across Muskegon and Oceana. These service volunteers provided immeasurable support to the organizations to meet their mission goals of providing food to youth and seniors, medical transportation for seniors, telephone reassurance calls, literacy mentorship, multiple healthy initiatives providing access to care, tax assistance, cultural experiences through our local theater and museums, and so much more. The work doesn’t stop there! There are several volunteer positions that still need to be filled at our partner stations! Learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference today.
Disability Network - Transportation Story
Last year, transportation assistance accounted for 5% of all 211 calls around the Lakeshore. These calls focused on medical transportation, public transportation, automobile assistance, long distance travel, and ride-share services. A partner agency working to meet the needs of our community in transportation is the Disability Network of West Michigan.

The transportation voucher program through the Disability Network helps individuals with disabilities increase their access and inclusion in our community by utilizing volunteer drivers. The program reimburses volunteer drivers at $0.56 a mile to help sustain and support those who are helping to break down barriers of transportation in Newaygo and Oceana. United Way of the Lakeshore is a proud contributor to this program, and in 2022, 200 clients were served through this program! Thank you to Disability Network, our volunteers, and generous donors for making this program possible!
Muskegon County Needs Volunteers to Help Get a Headcount of the Homeless
As shared by Fox17 West Michigan, "Homelessness is a nationwide issue, affecting more than 500-thousand people on a given night. But before you can address it, you have to know how many people are affected in your area.

In Muskegon County, a group is on a mission to find that number. To do just that, Muskegon County’s Homeless Continuum of Care conducts an annual PIT (point in time) survey, identifying who’s homeless at this point in time. Last year, the PIT survey revealed almost 500 people in the county were experiencing homelessness. Many of them were families, including 95 children.

They’re hoping that hitting the ground will help them assess the need and provide necessary resources through federal and state funding. This comes at a time when the need is critical."
The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Releases Their 2023 Book List!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library puts books into the hands and hearts of children around the world. Imagination Library books are specially selected age-appropriate, high-quality titles. These books are delivered to registered children each month from birth to age five. United Way of the Lakeshore is proud to be the affiliate partner for this program in our region. Each book is personalized with the child’s name and mailed directly to the child’s home. This effort creates a gifting experience making books exciting and shows the child someone is thinking of them. The Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee selects several bilingual English/Spanish titles each year.

Check out the book list by hitting the orange button below. Interested in registering your child or supporting a child in the program? Visit our website through the blue button below.
Our 2022 Community Campaign is off to a great start and our companies are boosting employee morale by having fun! A huge shout out to our partners who completed their Workplace Campaigns this past week: Acemco Incorporated, City of North Muskegon, Clifford Buck Construction, Route 31 Credit Union, and Sun Chemical Corporation. A big thanks to our partners who are currently running their Workplace Campaign! 
 
Interested in boosting employee morale while supporting your community? There is still time to host a Workplace Campaign as part of our 2022 Campaign! Contact J.J. Lewis at (231) 332-4007 or james@unitedwaylakeshore.org to learn more!
Book Sorting With Read Early. Read Often., Goodwill Industries, & United Way: Clean, sort, sticker, and pack used books to be re-distributed in the community to families and children who need them. 
Nearly half (49%) of Americans want to save more money in 2023, and another third (33%) want to either improve their credit score or create a personal budget!
If you are among these Americans, check out this article to find out about programs and services near you!
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United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. We have one life. To live better, we must LIVE UNITED®.